The Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner will oversee an investigation into the events that led up to a Vancouver police officer punching a cyclist in the face during an arrest captured on video in Yaletown.In the video, which rapidly spread to thousands of users on Facebook, the officer is seen punching Andishae Akhavan once in the jaw from behind while he is being handcuffed.OPCC spokesman Rollie Woods said the VPD filed a complaint Wednesday, and advised the commissioner that the department was investigating the officer's conduct, including searching for additional video evidence that shows what happened before Akhavan was arrested.Legislation allows up to six months for the investigation, though Woods said he hoped it would not take that long, given the high level of public interest in the case.He noted that by mid-morning Thursday, the OPCC had received more than 10 complaints from the public about the video. He would not release the officer's name, citing privacy laws.Social media sites on Thursday morning were buzzing with messages of both outrage and support for the officer. While civil rights groups weighed in on the use of force, the police union backed the officer's actions.Police union president Tom Stamatakis told CKNW Thursday that a punch can be considered an appropriate use of force. He said there is probably more to the story than the video shows because it is unlikely that someone would be arrested just for running through a red light or not wearing a helmet.But Michael Vonn, policy director for the BC Civil Liberties Association, was "alarmed" by the use of violence."While police have the power to use reasonable force, if needed, in carrying out their duties, the video leads to questions as to whether this punch was an unnecessary and violent overreaction," said Vonn.VPD spokesman Sgt. Randy Fincham said Thursday that the officer has been with the department for four years and he is taking some regularly scheduled time off. He would not comment on whether the officer had previously been disciplined."Internal discipline records are not a matter of public record," he said, in an email.The incident occurred around 11 p.m. Tuesday when Akhavan stopped at a red light next to an unmarked car with two plainclothes officers who alleged he had just run another light on Beatty Street near BC Place.Friend Mike Schwarz was driving by and began filming the arrest of an indignant Akhavan, angry after being ticketed thrice for the red light, cycling without a helmet and riding at night without proper lights.As he is being handcuffed, Akhavan can be heard asking the officer, "What is this for?" He appears to move and then the officer punches him in the face. Then someone can be heard saying "What the hell was that?"The plainclothes officer then asks Schwarz to move aside and not interfere with his work.Schwarz said the officer got more aggressive just before he began filming the incident.Fincham said Akhavan was treated at the scene for a cut lip by firefighters and released on a promise to appear pending approval of a charge of obstructing a police officer.A VPD supervisor arrived on the scene after the incident was captured on video and nixed his $109 headlight ticket and $29 helmet ticket, Akhavan said. He still has to pay the $167 ticket for running a red light, Akhavan said.Schwarz, founder of the popular nightlife website Clubzone, uploaded his video to Facebook Wednesday afternoon and within several hours more than 1,000 users had commented. The vast majority of commenters castigated what they saw as the officer's heavy-handed tactics, some in profanity-laced rants.ticrawford@vancouversun.com

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